Parishioners of St Aidan’s in Brookfield are “going home” for Christmas now that their church, which was closed for the past six months, is re-opening this weekend.

Last May, a section of the Tallaght church was destroyed in a fire, with the remainder of the interiors badly damaged by smoke.

Nobody was in the church at the time of the early morning blaze, with the fire starting accidentally.

After six months of renovations, which included a new altar, refurbished seats, painting work and a new ceiling and carpet, St Aidan’s will open to its parishioners this Saturday, December 23.

Parish priest Fr Pat McKinley told The Echo: “Regulars of St Aidan’s were travelling to Fettercairn and Springfield for Mass and when we announced recently that the church was re-opening there was a huge cheer.

“People are delighted to be going home to their own church, and it’s nice that we’re celebrating this at Christmas.”

Fr McKinley, is the parish priest of the joined parishes of Springfield, Jobstown, Brookfield and Fettercairn, a grouping which is reflective of the changing times for the church.

According to Fr McKinley: “A question raised after the fire was, should we keep using the building as a church?

“This was a very real question, but we made a decision to re-open the church so that Brookfield can continue to be a parish in its own right.”

Fr McKinley thanked Fr Jimmy McPartland, co-PP, and parish volunteer Christy Osbourne for their work in getting the church re-opened.

The first Mass in the newly renovated St Aidan’s will take place this Saturday, December 23, at 5.30pm.

Christmas Eve services will be held at 5.30pm (family Mass) and 9pm (vigil) while on Christmas Day Mass will be at 10.30am.

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